SOUTH CAROLINA · HORRY COUNTY
Where the Grand Strand meets the full force of the Atlantic
Sixty miles of oceanfront resort, high-rise towers, and open-water Exposure D. Myrtle Beach wind design carries the 130-140 mph load that Hugo and Florence proved was no theory.
THE GRAND STRAND PROFILE
An unbroken Atlantic fetch hits the beachfront wall
Open ocean to the east means no terrain to slow the wind before it reaches Ocean Boulevard's high-rise corridor.
VELOCITY & TERRAIN
Why the beachfront reads Exposure D, not C
Direct, unobstructed Atlantic frontage puts oceanfront Ocean Boulevard towers in the most severe terrain bracket; the Strand steps down to C and B as you move inland of Highway 17.
Oceanfront · Exposure D
Ocean Boulevard towers and beachfront condos with open-water frontage take the harshest velocity-pressure coefficients.
DIRECT ATLANTICMid-Strand · Exposure C
Scattered low obstructions along the coastal flats keep most near-shore parcels in open Exposure C terrain.
COASTAL FLATSInland of US-17 · Exposure B
Wooded subdivisions and dense development west of the bypass can justify Exposure B with supporting terrain analysis.
SUBURBAN ROUGHNESSTHE STORMS THAT WROTE THE CODE
Hugo and Florence are the design basis, not the warning
Every major Strand impact validates the 130-140 mph envelope for resort and high-rise construction.
Hugo, 1989
Category 4 landfall near Charleston with catastrophic statewide reach into the Strand.
CAT 4Florence, 2018
Stalled near the Carolinas, driving historic rainfall and wind across Horry County.
FLOOD + WINDDorian, 2019
Offshore Cat 2 pass that still battered beachfront towers and stripped the dune line.
CAT 2 OFFSHOREMatthew, 2016
An offshore track that still pushed flooding and wind damage throughout the county.
COASTAL SURGEASCE 7-22 · TABLE 1.5-1
Risk category steps the Strand wind map upward
A higher risk category reads a longer-return-period map, so design speed climbs with the stakes of the structure.
| Risk Category | Myrtle Beach Design Wind Speed | Typical Structures |
|---|---|---|
| I | ~120-130 mph | Agricultural, temporary, minor storage |
| II | 130-140 mph | Homes, retail, hotels, standard occupancy |
| III | ~145-155 mph | Schools, assembly >300, hazardous materials |
| IV | ~155-165 mph | Hospitals, fire/police, emergency shelters |
PERMIT-READY CHECKLIST
What a Horry County submittal must carry
South Carolina adopts the IBC with ASCE 7-22; no statewide product approval, but every component must meet tested performance for its wind zone.
SC PE Seal
Calculations sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in South Carolina.
Address Wind Speed
130-140 mph established from the project's exact Strand location.
Exposure Justification
D oceanfront, C coastal, or B inland with documented terrain support.
C&C Pressures
Windows, doors, roof panels, and cladding rated for coastal zones.
High-Rise Kz
Height-dependent coefficients for tower hotels and condominiums.
Debris Protection
Impact glazing or shutters for windborne-debris exposure on the coast.
HORRY COUNTY · 29526-29588
Wind speed tightens toward the dune line
Coastal proximity drives both velocity and exposure across the Strand's ZIP corridors.
29572 · 29577
Ocean Boulevard oceanfront — 135-140 mph, Exposure D/C.
OCEANFRONT29575 · 29579 · 29588
North Myrtle Beach oceanfront — 135-140 mph, coastal.
NORTH STRAND29526 · 29568 · 29576
Inland west of US-17 — 130-135 mph, Exposure B may apply.
INLAND29566 · 29582
Pawleys Island & Surfside Beach — 135-140 mph coastal.
SOUTH STRANDOFFICIAL JURISDICTION LINKS
Verify with the authorities that issue the permit
EXPLORE NEARBY & STATEWIDE
Compare the rest of the coast
RUN THE NUMBERS
Calculate Myrtle Beach loads at the exact 130-140 mph for your site
Enter any Horry County address for location-specific velocity, oceanfront Exposure D handling, high-rise Kz, and PE-ready ASCE 7-22 reports.